The Anatomy of VDJTools
VDJTools installs as a command line app on both Windows and Mac. It is downloaded from the relevant app store and is immediately available from your command/terminal window. There are two free features with VDJTools: Healthcheck and Backup/Restore. Click on their links to find out more about each. When first installed nothing much else happens. … Read more
Start With a Backup
Free: Running a Backup is one of the free features available when you download VDJTools. The safest repair session is the one you can undo. It’s tempting to skip the backup step when you’re keen to just get on with fixing a library, especially if nothing feels obviously broken yet. But a backup takes seconds, … Read more
Run a Healthcheck
Free: Running a Healthcheck is one of the free features available when you download VDJTools. See the whole problem before you fix any part of it. So this was one of the first features I developed. Knowing how bad the problem is, let’s you know instantly whether this is something you can live with, fix … Read more
Why the Database Comes First
Fix the central record of truth before the dependent lists. Your VirtualDJ database is the heart if your live workflow. The last thing you want to be doing is searching for alternatives because your most played songs can’t be found, or trying to Locate missing file while mid mix. Also those folders/playlists you curated for … Read more
Use AutoFix
Let the tool find the likely matches, then keep control. As I’ve already mentioned, I’m really proud of this feature. It will save you a lot of time when running your repairs. It has two specific modes of operation. When you think about how VirtualDJ operates, the way Autofix works makes complete sense. Repair How … Read more
Reaching the repairs other features cannot reach
CrossRef and Autofix will do a great job, but they may not catch every one. So you may be required to update the New File Path cell yourself. Luckily, both Windows and macOS have keyboard shortcuts that can save you time. Windows macOS What it does shift+click shift+click Select a contiguous range (same on both) … Read more
Validate Before You Import
Catch bad paths while you can still fix them safely. Validation is the checkpoint between editing and updating. It’s where VDJTools checks every new path before anything reaches your actual VirtualDJ files, and it’s your last real chance to catch a wrong path before it becomes a live change rather than an editable one. What … Read more
Import Your Changes
/stage:import is the only time VDJTools will make changes to any of your files. In this case the database(s) that hold the track details, cue points and all other meta data VirtualDJ uses at runtime. VDJTools will backup every file touched on import. Unlike a /backup, which backs up all files, during an import only … Read more
Verify the Result
Trust your results because you checked them. Import Playlist — To help with identifying all the restored files, VDJTools will create a playlist within VirtualDJ of all the tracks restored. The primary reason for creating this was to allow all the tracks to be re-analysed quickly from a single location. The playlist is saved to … Read more